An Israeli helicopter killed at least one Palestinian in a missile attack in the Gaza Strip Wednesday, bringing to five the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli military action in the past 24 hours.

Witnesses said the helicopter fired at a group of people gathered in a street in the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza. Israeli military sources said the group was firing on Israeli troops who had raided the camp earlier demolishing seven houses.

The operation is the third Israeli action in Gaza in a new campaign aimed at militants and their leaders responsible for attacks against Israel.

Tuesday evening and again early Wednesday morning, Israeli attack helicopters fired missiles at targets in Gaza City, killing at least four people. The raids came just hours after Israel's security Cabinet approved a military response to a double suicide bombing in the port of Ashdod on Sunday.

Israel Radio quoted senior military sources on Wednesday as saying the ongoing operation would be low key and would not involve a reoccupation of Gaza.